Raising Your Kids Packer Fans

Tavis SmileyMember

The dawn of a new season and as my girls get older (oldest now 5) has got me thinking on what role (if any) I should play in passing the torch of my Packer love on to my kids. This was a right of passage growing up in Wisconsin as I can remember sharing Sunday's with my brother and Uncle in his basement, watching games with the volume turned completely down because my Uncle couldn't stand the obnoxious national announcers. Chicago relatives giving my family ****tt during the early eighties on Thanksgiving was common place and climaxed with my cousins microwaving my brother's Packer's hat full of mash potatoes and stuffing. Growing up as a little Packer fan was no easy task.

But then came the new glory years and I have been lucky enough to witness those good years too (I can only imagine how those feel who lived through the Lombardi years, the nonsense in between, and the now). As my family did with me, I think it's time to pass on the love. My daughter has taken some interest in watching games with me and has the obligatory Rodgers jersey she wears on Sunday, but I wonder if any of this will eventually stick with her or if she looks at me as a crazed loser who bends himself out of shape every Sunday about a game he has absolutely no control over. My wife already looks at me as the latter, and has no interest what-so-ever and I actually prefer this to the football obsessed jersey-matching wearing wife. It helps in my life's striving for balance.

I remember reading a story a few years back about a Dad who actually duct taped his young son to a chair because he refused to watch the 2007 Seattle playoff game with him, and I remember how emabarrassed I was to be from Wisconsin until tried this with my daughter this year during the Cleveland preseason game. Maybe as the years go by my kids will be engrained with the same passion I have for the Pack, but I can't help but feel part of this lies on my shoulders. You have to understand, my in-laws live in Minnesota and are huge Vikings fans. I know the brainwashing has begun already!

9/8/1212:47 PM

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

ilcuquiTHE F*** WITH FASHION

quote:
My daughter has taken some interest in watching games with me and has the obligatory Rodgers jersey she wears on Sunday, but I wonder if any of this will eventually stick with her or if she looks at me as a crazed loser who bends himself out of shape every Sunday about a game he has absolutely no control over. My wife already looks at me as the latter, and has no interest what-so-ever and I actually prefer this to the football obsessed jersey-matching wearing wife. It helps in my life's striving for balance.

I have a 21 year-old and a 19 year-old daughter, and a 15 year-old son. I've lived in northern Virginia since 1980 and all of my kids were born and raised here. Other than having them live with my diehard Packer support, I've never pressured any of them to support my team. My wife's attitude is like your wife's, she can't understand my obsession but doesn't rag about it too much.

Probably doesn't hurt that the local brand (Redskins) massively suck in all aspects, and that the 90's and 2000's have been good for the Packers, but all three kids are passionate Green Bay fans. It just happened.

So my advice is to just let whatever happens happens. Its hard to resist the Green Bay brand these days.

9/8/121:04 PM

FountainfoxMember

I have a grandson and a nephew who reacted to the local Packer jingoism by becoming (of all things) Dallas Cowboy fans. Kids may do this (understandably, IMO) but those that do are in a definite minority.

I cannot agree more with the sentiment to avoid pressuring kids into adopting something that should, after all be a fun thing. In any case I don't think you can teach someone to love a team, you can only set an example.

What that fandom can teach, however, that is worthwhile is sportsmanship and a sense of fair play.

9/8/121:22 PM

Blair KielGOOD OL' FAKE BLAIR KIEL - My Hood? nice Henry. Fuck You!

My Kiel-ette has spent 18 years and nine months of her 19 years in Florida.

Still, he considers herself as being a Wisconsinite.

Every game day, I'd shout upstairs, "Do you know what day it is?" Her response, "It's Packer Sunday!"

I ain't perfect, but I'm a damn good Packer Dad.

Raise 'em right.

9/8/121:27 PM

"We"-Ka-BongYou ungrateful biscuit eating son of a bitch

quote:
Originally posted by Blair Kiel:
Still, he considers herslf as being a Wisconsinite.

something tells me there is more to this story...

9/8/121:34 PM

trumpMember

9/8/121:40 PM

Blair KielGOOD OL' FAKE BLAIR KIEL - My Hood? nice Henry. Fuck You!

9/8/121:48 PM

Blair KielGOOD OL' FAKE BLAIR KIEL - My Hood? nice Henry. Fuck You!

Coach.

You can put back the Lou Reed thing---I thought it was funny!

9/8/121:55 PM

CoachAt the head of the table

quote:
Originally posted by El-Ka-Bong:
quote:
Originally posted by Blair Kiel:
Still, he considers herslf as being a Wisconsinite.

something tells me there is more to this story...

Holly came from Miami FLA
Hitch-hiked her way across the USA.
Plucked her eyebrows on the way
Shaved her leg and then he was a she
She said, hey babe, take a walk on the wild side,
Said, hey honey,...

9/8/122:01 PM

Blair KielGOOD OL' FAKE BLAIR KIEL - My Hood? nice Henry. Fuck You!

You managed to be sexist, racist and transgender hateful all in one post.

Gebins.

9/8/122:04 PM

CoachAt the head of the table

Or I just remembered the lyrics to a Lou Reed song.

One of those two things.

9/8/122:06 PM

Timmy!TIMMAAAAYYY!!

Tavis, I recall when I began watching football with my Dad, and asked him why he had picked the Packers as his team to root for. He explained the humble beginnings, perserverance of the team and town, and their present-day "David vs Goliath" situation in the league.
But what really appealed to him were the values that Lombardi preached, the dedication and hard work it required from the players, and the no-nonsense approach and execution.
It made me want to learn more about the team and their history, and just developed from there. Hopefully, the same or similar things will appeal to your girls, and they will follow in your footsteps.

9/8/124:21 PM

TimthePackerFanMember

I never taught my kids to enjoy Packer football, they just picked up on how much fun it was for myself and the little woman. Had three girls 1) a Big Packer fan, 2) pretends to not enjoy them but gets excited when their in the Super Bowl, 3) hasn't shown any interest in sports of any kind.

9/8/127:10 PM

Favre2DriverMember

I have two kids, a 4 year old girl, and one going on 2... I still whisper "go pack go" in their ears after I read them a book, just as I did the second they were born and both of them know who to cheer for on Sundays!!!

9/8/127:24 PM

Rusty42 inch pythons brother!

I will certainly raise them to be Packer fans if I can find a place that will watch them when I go to Lambeau.

9/8/127:27 PM

Tavis SmileyMember

Baiting a Henry post Rusty??

9/8/127:35 PM

Rusty42 inch pythons brother!

I'll gladly watch everyone's child here once my probation expires.

9/8/127:43 PM

Blair KielGOOD OL' FAKE BLAIR KIEL - My Hood? nice Henry. Fuck You!

My daughter/son appreciates the kind offer.

9/8/127:45 PM

Tavis SmileyMember

How do you spell aereolas?

9/8/127:56 PM

Tavis SmileyMember

In all seriousness, I think the girls will come around. Being a parent is fun as hell, and this just adds a new wrinkle to it. Whatever they choose, I'm a proud Dad.

9/8/127:59 PM

Blair KielGOOD OL' FAKE BLAIR KIEL - My Hood? nice Henry. Fuck You!

Really?

9/8/128:05 PM

Tavis SmileyMember

How do you spell gehatetoe?

9/8/128:06 PM

GoallineLarge Antenna

quote:
Originally posted by El-Ka-Bong:
quote:
Originally posted by Blair Kiel:
Still, he considers herslf as being a Wisconsinite.

something tells me there is more to this story...

Actually makes sense to me.

9/8/128:09 PM

GBP1Member

As soon as she was old enough to run and carry a football we would play tackle on the carpet in front of the TV during Packers games. Then a few years back my daughter would watch cheer against the Packers...I think because she knew I was so obsessed with the games, I think she did it soley to chide me and get me agitated. But it fazed me not.

Now the last several years she has become a big Packers fan. Loves all the guys on the field and knows almost each one. She understands the game too.

This year should a good one. Our goal is to get to Lambeau for a game and then she will be have been baptized three times. One Catholic, one Lutheran and the last one lifelong Packer Fan!

9/8/1210:32 PM

ChilliJonI hate the Vikings!

Boy's rebel against the establishment to try and lay their own groundrules. My son has fought GB for years. At age 11 he's coming around. He was handed the number 52 jersey in his 1st youth football league and he looked at me and gushed... "CLAY!!!". He won't admit it. But he get's it. It's a matter of time.

My 14 year old daughter has been on board with the Packers for years. Girls mature quicker and she's worn her Packer jersey's proudly. She will watch games with passing interest. Only so she can follow along when it comes up in conversation. It matters for reasons that matter now. Over time that will change to what truly matters.

9/8/1210:47 PM

ammoCheese Master

quote:
Originally posted by Tavis Smiley:
Baiting a Henry post Rusty??

Hhhmmm.....

9/9/126:38 AM

GusBobMember

The experience with our 3 kids is mixed, girls different than the boy, and it will change with age as all kids do. Try to make Packer Sundays a family affair: cook comfort food and lay out the snaxks and drinks. For weeknight games when they are younger its atreat to stay up past bed time. It helps when both mom and dad are crazed Packer fans. It also helps when the team is successful.
I remember when our son was little, he was a wallclimber who never sat still for nothing. I thought to myself this boy aint ever gonna be into football. Boy howdy was I wrong. Now he is a stats and draft freak and seems to know all the stars on all the teams. Pro and college. His goal right now is to play Div1 football and this past week took a big step that way by earning a starting spot on his HS football team as a freshman. Pretty big deal for 8A football in this state. Plays middle linebacker. 5' 10'' 200lns 4.9/40 can bench 250 14 years old

The girls are older and once they hit teenagers the interests change. The one loves Packer Sundays for the food and she gets to have a couple of lite beers. The other one has a crush on AROD and loves to watch him play

9/9/126:39 AM

justanotherpackerfanMember

I failed miserably as a parent. I wanted my boys to be Packer fans and wrestlers (just like their old man). I think I am just too crazy and watching their dad stomp around the living room on a Sunday; screaming, crying, yelling, laughing, hugging, jumping.....just scared them away from football. They ended up not being physical enough to wrestle and never really enjoyed it all.

The above is all true...but even truer is the fact that they both grew up to be wonderful human beings. They might not be into football, but they are intelligent, moral young men. They might not have wrestled but they played tennis for and with me and had some amazing accomplishments in the sport. I had 10 years of fun going to the courts and playing with them and even more fun watch them compete in tournament and on the high school team.

Moral of the story....to each their own and be proud of all the great accomplishments your kids have.
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Though I still wish they were Packer fans.

9/9/126:55 AM

Tavis SmileyMember

quote:
Originally posted by ammo:
quote:
Originally posted by Tavis Smiley:
Baiting a Henry post Rusty??

Hhhmmm.....

Was anticipating some Green Bay childcare suggestions.

9/9/127:11 AM

H5Keyboard Warrior, troll hunter

Kicking the dog, you forgot kicking the dog.

9/9/127:24 AM

FandameMember

My 8-year-old son adores the Pack and has a bedroom wall dedicated to Packer pictures. (Only a wall? I asked him.

) He is on his third jersey (Driver, Rodgers, now Clay) and tells his little Viking buddies -- and his teachers when they tease him -- that GB is best. He just followed my footsteps.

His 6-year-old sister on the other hand, will try to twist the knife and say she is rooting for the Vikings or sometimes whomever is playing GB. When I asked her once, "What do you do when I tell you to do something?" her answer was, "Da opposite." Most of the time she couldn't care less about football, but then she'll sit down and watch a game and yell, "Goooo, Packers!"

They love to see what gets your goat. I don't care if they love or hate football or GB (they still don't get the remote), but I do want them to play a sport and they both do. Being a parent is the most wonderful, fantastic, frustrating, loving thing a person could ever do.

9/9/1210:24 AM

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